Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Do you need a sweet treat that’s easy to make and delicious? Look no further than these Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins! Ripe bananas and chocolate chips join forces and become perfectly moist and fluffy, while the optional streusel topping adds a delightful crunch. No matter your baking experience, these muffins are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

The great thing about these muffins is their simplicity. They’re made with ingredients you likely have in your pantry, making them a go-to for a quick snack or a lazy weekend breakfast. Plus, the streusel topping adds something a little extra.

Ingredients

• Ripe bananas – Bananas: No ripe bananas? Use applesauce or mashed avocados for a twist.
• Granulated sugar – Swap granulated sugar for brown sugar.
• Egg
• Melted butter, (salted) – You can use unsalted butter. Simply add 1/4 teaspoon of salt with the dry ingredients. Applesauce is also a good substitute for butter. (see below) 
• Vanilla extract
• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda 
• Baking powder
• Chocolate chips – Chocolate Chips: Feel free to use diced nuts, dried fruit like raisins, or any other flavored baking chips, like cinnamon.

Optional Streusel Topping

• Brown sugar 
• Flour
• Cubed butter 
• Cinnamon 

Instructions

1 – Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and get your muffin tin ready with liners or lightly grease the tin.

2 – In a big bowl, mash the bananas and mix them with melted butter. Throw in the sugar, egg, and vanilla and stir well.

3 – In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and baking powder.

4 – Slowly add the dry mix to the wet, stirring just enough to blend.

5 – Fold in the chocolate chips gently.

6 – If you’re using the streusel topping, mix brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a bowl. Mix in the butter until it looks like crumbs.

7 – Spoon your batter into the muffin tin, and if you’re feeling fancy, sprinkle the streusel on top.

8 – Bake for 20-25 minutes. Check with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, they’re ready!

9 – Let them cool a bit in the pan, then move them to a rack.

10 – Serve these warm or at room temperature.

Tips and Tricks

• Banana Ripeness: The riper the banana, the better the flavor and moisture in your muffins.
• Mixing: Avoid overmixing the batter to keep your muffins light and fluffy.
• Streusel Storage: If you have extra streusel, store it in the fridge for your next baking session.

Do you have tips for ripening bananas quicker?

Absolutely. Here are some tips to ripen bananas quicker

Paper Bag Method: Place the bananas in a paper bag and fold it loosely at the top. The trapped ethylene gas, which bananas naturally emit, will speed up the ripening process. For an even quicker result, add an apple or a ripe banana to the bag.

Warm Place: Store bananas in a warm place like near a sunny window or on top of a fridge. Warmth accelerates the ripening process.

Oven Ripening: If you’re in a hurry, use your oven. Place unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet and bake at a low temperature (about 250-300°F) until the banana skin is shiny and black. Depending on how green they are, this could take about 15-30 minutes. The bananas won’t be exactly like naturally ripened ones, but they’ll be soft and sweet. Perfect for baking.

Remember, these methods can soften and sweeten bananas, making them suitable for recipes like banana bread or muffins, but they might not develop the exact same flavor profile as naturally ripened bananas.

Can I Make Banana Muffins Using Brown Sugar Instead of White Sugar?

Yes, you can definitely use brown sugar instead of white sugar in banana muffin recipes. In fact, using brown sugar can add a lovely depth of flavor thanks to its molasses content. Here are a few things to keep in mind when using brown sugar:

Flavor Profile: Brown sugar brings a rich, caramel-like flavor to baked goods, which can compliment the taste of bananas quite well.

Moisture Content: Brown sugar contains more moisture than white sugar, so it can make your muffins a bit moister and denser, which is often desirable in banana muffins.

Measurement: You can generally substitute brown sugar for white sugar in a 1:1 ratio. If the recipe calls for ¾ cup of white sugar, you can use the same amount of brown sugar.

Texture: The texture of the muffins might be slightly different with brown sugar. They tend to be a bit softer and more moist.

Color: Brown sugar can give the muffins a darker color, which is aesthetically pleasing and appetizing.

Overall, using brown sugar in banana muffins is a great way to add a rich flavor and moist texture. It’s a simple substitution that can enhance the overall taste of your muffins.

Can I Use Applesauce Instead of Butter?

Yes, you can use applesauce to reduce the fat in your banana muffin recipe. Applesauce is a popular substitute for butter or oil in baking. Here’s how you can do it:

• Substitution Ratio: Use a 1:1 ratio to replace the fat. For example, if the recipe calls for ⅓ cup of butter, you can use ⅓ cup of applesauce instead.
• Texture and Moisture: Applesauce makes muffins moist and can give them a slightly denser texture compared to using butter or oil.
• Flavor: Applesauce has a mild flavor but can add a slight apple undertone to your muffins. It generally compliments the taste of bananas well.
• Sugar Content: Since applesauce is naturally sweet, you might want to reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe slightly, depending on your taste preference.
• Healthier Option: Applesauce is a great way to reduce fat content and make your muffins healthier.

While applesauce is a good substitute for fat in terms of health and calories, it might slightly alter the texture and flavor of the muffins compared to the original recipe.

How Do I Know If My Bananas Are Too Ripe?

Skin Color: Overripe bananas typically have skin that’s almost completely brown or black. While some browning is normal and actually desirable for baking, a banana with more brown or black than yellow may be past its prime.

Texture: The banana inside should be very soft, almost mushy. If the banana feels excessively squishy or liquid under the skin, it’s probably overripe.

Smell: A strong, sweet, fermented, or alcohol-like smell is a clear sign that the banana is overripe. This odor indicates that the sugars in the banana have broken down.

Mold: Any signs of mold, a slimy texture on the skin, or the banana itself mean it’s gone bad.

Taste: If you’re unsure, you can taste a small piece. An overripe banana will have an overly sweet and sometimes sour or fermented taste, which is not pleasant for direct consumption but might still work in baking, provided it’s not spoiled.

While overripe bananas are often perfect for banana bread or muffins due to their high sugar content and soft texture, bananas that have fermented or gone moldy should be discarded for health reasons.

Storing Banana Muffins

Make sure that the muffins are completely cool before storing them. This prevents condensation inside the container, which can make the muffins soggy.

Room Temperature 

• Place the muffins in an airtight container.
• You can also put a layer of paper towel at the bottom of the container to absorb any excess moisture.
• Store the container at room temperature. The muffins should stay fresh for about 2 to 3 days.

Refrigerator 

• For a slightly longer shelf life, you can store the muffins in the refrigerator.
• Again, use an airtight container with a paper towel to absorb moisture.
• In the fridge, the muffins can last up to a week.

Freezing

• For long-term storage, muffins can be frozen.
• Wrap each muffin individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. 
• Place the wrapped muffins in a freezer-safe bag or container. 
• Label the container with the date. Muffins can be frozen for up to 3 months. To thaw, leave them at room temperature or defrost in the microwave.

Reheating

• If you prefer warm muffins, you can reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds or in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes.

Remember, storing muffins properly helps retain their flavor and texture, allowing you to enjoy them just as much as when they were freshly baked!

More Banana Recipes You’re Going to Love

• Banana Bread
• Banana Pudding
• Banana Bread Brownies

This recipe was written and tested by a human.

Editor: Oliver Baysinger